Portable fire-fighting equipment



April 28, 1959 I POON 2,884,075 PORTABLE FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT FiledSept. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ufiice 2,884,075 IPatented Apr. 28, 1959 PORTABLE FIRE-FIGHTIN G EQUIPMENT Tom King Poon,Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 6, 1957, Serial No. 682,505

2 Claims. (Cl. 169-1) This invention relates to a fire-fighting device,and it more particularly relates to a device which can be used forfighting fires in wooded and mountainous areas which are inaccessible toordinary fire-fighting apparatus.

Ordinarily, forest fires and fires in mountainous territory cannot beeasily put out or prevented from spreading because ordinaryfire-fighting equipment cannot be conveyed to such areas. Furthermore,even if such equipment could be brought to the scene, it could not beused unless there was available a source of water under pressure. Suchsource would in almost all cases not be available and, even if a pumpingsystem were part of the fire-fighting equipment, any kind of water,whether under pressure or not, would most likely not be accessible inthe areas where the fire was at its most intense stage. This is one ofthe reasons why such fires are so difficult to control and provide sucha great hazard.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the abovedifiiculties by providing a fire-fighting apparatus which can betransported to any area to which a man can go.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fire-fightingapparatus which does not depend on a supply of water being available.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple,self-contained, portable, fire-fighting unit which is easy to operateand which does not present any difficult maintenance problems.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improvedfire-fighting device, of the character described, that is easily andeconomically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which ishighly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists inthe details of construction and combination of parts, as will be morefully understood from the following description, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: I

.Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the presentinvention, the device being shown carried on the back of a person.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a number of devices, embodying the presentinvention, arranged in a group to encircle a fire.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detailed, side elevational view of the deviceshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the device of Fig. 3, with someparts omitted for greater clarity.

Fig. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of the device of Fig. 3.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein similarreference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown an assembly,generally deisgnated 10, comprising a support generally designated 12, apower unit generally designated 14, and a blower generally designated16. Each of these units 12, 14 and 16 are releasably secured into thegeneral assembly 10 but may be disassembled for even greater portabilitywhen the occasion demands.

The support 12 comprises a tubular frame consisting of two L-shapedtubes 18 and 20, each having the shorter arm of the L positioned on thebottom and each being arranged parallel with the other in spacedrelationship. A generally U-shaped tube 22 extends in a diagonaldirection from adjacent the free ends of the shorter arms of theL-shaped tubes 18 and 20 to the upper ends of the longer arms thereof,the bridge portion of the U-shaped tube 22 extending above the upperends of the tubes 18 and 20. The lower ends of the U-shaped tube 22 aresecured to the corresponding shorter arms of the tubes 18 and 20 and theupper portion of the tube 22 is secured to the upper ends of the tubes18 and 20 at the corresponding points of intersection, as by spotwelding, bolting, or any other desired securing means.

A brace bar 24, of generally U-shaped construction, surrounds the rearand sides of the frame, being secured at its open ends to the U-shapedtube 22 as by spotwelding or the like, and embracing the tubes 18 and 20at the lower portions of their longer arm's.

At the lower front edge of the frame there is provided an axle 26 whichextends through mating holes in front ends of the tubes 18 and 20 andlower ends of the tube 22. On the opposite ends of this axle, outsidethe frame, are provided rollers or small wheels 28. At the rear lowerend of the frame is provided an axle 30 at the opposite ends of whichare provided wheels 32 of larger diameter than the rollers 28.

Positioned on the lower, shorter arms of the L-shaped tubes 18 and 20 isan open shelf 34 having an upstanding front wall and an open rear. Theshelf 34 is adapted to support either a storage battery 36 for theelectric motor 38, as illustrated in Fig. 3, or gas and oil supply for agasoline engine, such as illustrated at 40 in Fig. 5.

Intermediate the top and bottom of the frame there is provided aplatform 42, secured at its sides to the intermediate portions of theU-shaped tube 22, and at its rear corners to the intermediate portionsof the longer arms of the tubes 18 and 20, as by spot-welding or thelike. This platform 42 has a center opening 44 of circular configurationand a pair of elongated openings 46 at each side of the center opening44. Adapted to be secured to the platform 42 is a base plate 47 havingopenings adjacent each corner. Through these openings extend bolts 48,and these bolts also extend through a resilient cushioning member 50made of sponge rubber or the like. The base plate 46 and its attachedcushioning member 50 are adapted to be adjustably secured to theplatform 42 by means of the bolts 48. The bolts 48 are slidable betweenthe opposite ends of the corresponding openings 46 to permit relativeadjustment of the base plate 47 and the platform 42. When adjusted toproper position, the nuts 52 are tightened on the bolts-on the undersideof the platform 42 to hold the parts rigidly assembled.

Releasably positioned on the base plate 47 is a U-shaped bracket 54having a central hole in the bridge portion thereof and a hold in eacharm adjacent the free ends thereof. This bracket 54 is adapted to bemounted on the base plate 47 with the bridge portion underneath and witha bolt 56 extending through the central hole in the bracket and throughcorresponding holes in the base plate 47 and cushion member 50, and alsothrough the hole 44 in the platform 42. The bolt 56 is then secured inplace by a nut 58 which, thereby, clamps the bracket in fixed position.

Pivotally mounted on this bracket 54 may be either the electric motor38, as in Fig. 3, or the gasoline engine 40, as in Fig. 5. In eithercase the pivotal connection 2,ss4,0re

is provided by adjustable pivot screws 60 extending through thecorresponding holes in the arms of the bracket 54 and into appropriatebearing blocks on the motor or engine, such as indicated at 62 in Fig.5. When the motor 38 is used, wires 64 connected the motor to thebattery 36. When the gasoline engine 40 is used, the shelf 34 storesextra quantities of gasoline and/or oil to be used to refill the gastank 66 of the engine and to fill the oil cylinder if required.

Both the motor 38 and the engine 4-63 are provided with face plate, asat 68 in Fig. 3 and 70 in Fig. 5. Each of these face plates is providedwith a plurality of threaded openings, such as indicated at 72 in Fig.to receive the mounting screws 74 extending through corresponding holesin a mounting plate 76. This mounting plate 76 supports the blower unit16 by means of four rods 7% which extend radially from each side of theplate 76. The rods 78 are adapted to fit into corresponding notches 80on the inner rim of a circular blade guard 82. The outer ends of therods 73 are provided with connected washers 84 and threaded ends 86; thewashers 84 contacting the outer ends of the notches to hold the rods inplace, and the threaded ends 86 receiving nuts 88 to clamp them securelyon the guard member 82. The outer rim of the blade guard 82 is similarlyprovided with notches, as at 90, to receive the threaded ends of rods 92radiating out from a square plate 94. The plate 76 is provided with acentral aperture 96 through which extends the shaft 98 of the electricmotor 38 or the shaft 100 of the gasoline engine 40. The ends of theshafts are threaded, as at 102 in Fig. 5, to engage in the threadedopening 104 in the hub 106 of the fan 108. The plate 94 is also providedwith a central aperture 110 from which extends an axle 112 adapted toenter into aperture 104 and support the fan for rotation.

The support 12 is provided with a shield 114 with a fire-resistant glasswindow 115 and having tubular bearings 116, one on each side, slidableon the corresponding tubes 18 or 20. Threaded holes are provided in eachbearing 116 and receives set-screws 118 which are used to hold thebearings 116 in adjusted position on the tubes 18 and 20, whereby theheight of the shield 114 is adjusted as desired.

A strap 120 is connected to both the tube 18 and the tube 20. These twostraps 120 are adapted to be slung around the shoulders of a person, asillustrated in Fig. 1, in order to easily carry the device.Alternatively, if it is desired to push or pull the device along theground, the upper, bridge portion of the tube 22 is used as a handlewhile the rollers 28 and wheels 32 rotatably support the device.

Although the device has been illustrated as one light enough to betransported on ones back, if desired, it can be made much larger andmore powerful. In that case, it would be necessary to mount it on aself-propelling vehicle of a type suitable for the purpose.

In the operation of the device illustrated, when a fire breaks out in aforest, mountainous terrain or other place which is relativelyinaccessible except by foot, one or a number of persons, the numberdepending on the size of the fire, are sent out, each carrying one ofthe firefighting units 10 embodying the present invention. When theyreach the source of the fire, they can, if it has not yet spread beyondall control, contain it or put it out by surrounding it with a ring offire-fighting devices as illustrated in Fig. 2. By propelling theircurtains of air under pressure against the fire, they form a curtainwhich prevents the spread of the fire and thereby localizes it. Whenlocalized in this manner, it becomes a relatively easy task to put itout by the employment of water, chemical extinguishers or the like.Sometimes, if the fire is not too intense, and if the pressure of theair is sufiicient, the air blasts themselves will serve to extinguishthe fire, or at least, to confine it until it burns out without spread-It is not always necessary to encircle the fire, as in Fig. 2.Sometimes, even one man with one unit will be able to contain and,thereby, localize the fire. Alternatively, a line of fire-fighters maybe strung abreast to keep the fire from travelling forward. Thepositioning of the units will depend on the situation.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting,since the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1. A portable fire-fighting carrying device comprising a fire-fightingapparatus support, said support comprising a pair of L-shaped tubesspaced apart in parallel planes having their long L legs extendingvertically and their short L legs extending horizontally, an inclinedU-shaped tube having its ends secured to said horizontal short legsadjacent their ends and having the ends of said vertical long legssecured to said U-shaped tube adjacent its bight, a front axle shaftsecured to said short legs adjacent their ends, a rear axle shaftsecured to said long legs adjacent to but spaced from their L angles,wheels on each of said axle shafts of a size to maintain said supportwith said short legs in a horizontal plane, a U-shaped brace bar havingits bight secured to said long legs above said rear axle shaft andhaving its own legs extending horizontally and secured at their ends tosaid inclined U-shaped tube, an L-shaped shelf having a shelf floorsupported on said short legs and a front wall extending to said inclinedtube, and a plate platform horizontally secured to said long legs andsaid inclined tube.

2. The device of claim 1, and a fire-protective shield adjustablymounted on said long legs, said shield having a fire-resistant windowtherein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,598,568 Fields Aug. 31, 1926 1,953,331 Armstrong Apr. 3, 19342,520,559 Osius Aug. 29, 1950 2,582,572 Tulk Ian. 15, 1952

